Rohl's switch from cleaning up the back to asking the team to play with more ambition is understandable, but it has produced mixed results, better possession and more danger, but defensive slips.
Defence first made sense
To be fair, Angus's point about prioritising the defence rang true. There was a period where getting the basics right at the back was the sensible job to do. We scraped results and, as odd as it sounds, that solidity gave the side something to build on. You could see the structure, the organisation and the clearer shape when we needed to stand firm. That foundation bought Rohl the right to try and change the outlook, to ask the players to press higher and take more risks further up the pitch.
More on the front foot, more problems at the back
Now the team are a lot more on the front foot and that has moments which are genuinely pleasing. The first half of the first OF game and the Hearts game felt like we were in control. Even the Livi match produced plenty of chances, as fans have noticed. But the flip side is obvious — when you push up you leave gaps. We look vulnerable at times, and those moments have cost us. At the weekend we dominated large spells but only really threatened late on. It shows the hard balance between control and cutting edge, between keeping a clean sheet and taking the initiative.
Can momentum and pragmatism be married?
We are Jekyll and Hyde at the moment. That inconsistency makes the last nine games look daunting. An incredible run would be needed, and yes, eight wins and a draw might do it, but that feels a big ask from where we stand. Had we nicked that OF league game earlier, maybe the momentum would have pushed us on. Still, it isn't beyond belief. The task now is pragmatic — nail down a baseline defensive plan that lets the attacking ideas breathe, rotate to keep energy high, and keep belief alive among the supporters. I know I sound hopeful, but that's what being a fan is. Keep believing, but demand the balance.
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